Within ten days after filing his statement, the contestant in said aldermanic election contest shall also serve or cause to be served a copy thereof upon the person whose election he is contesting. In case such respondent is absent from the city or cannot be found, then service may be had by leaving a copy of such statement at the respondent's usual place of abode with some person of the family of the age of ten years or upwards and informing such person of the contents thereof.
If such service cannot be had, and affidavit to that effect is filed with the city clerk within five days after the expiration of the time for securing service, then the city clerk shall cause service by publication to be made within ten days thereafter in the same manner and upon the same conditions as service is had in chancery cases in this state. In case of service by publication, the said contest shall not proceed until 30 days after the first date of publication, unless the person whose election is contested files his appearance before that time with the city clerk.
(Prior code § 4-7)